Aircraft guidance using localizer capture criteria for rectilinear displacement data

Abstract

Systems and methods for aircraft guidance using a localizer capture criteria for rectilinear displacement data are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a rectilinear deviation D between a current aircraft location and a final defined path (FDP) of an aircraft and determining a location at which the aircraft should begin a reposition maneuver based on the rectilinear deviation D. The method starts a reposition maneuver of the aircraft at a location determined based on a relationship between D and characteristics of the aircraft during the reposition maneuver. In some embodiments, the characteristics of the aircraft may include a velocity of the aircraft with respect to ground, an aircraft track angle, a heading of the FDP of the aircraft, a maximum allowed bank angle of the aircraft during a reposition maneuver, and a time allowance for aircraft rollup and rollout.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 752,038, filed May 22, 2007, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to systems and methods for runway approach guidance of aircraft, to systems and methods for performing Global Positioning systems, Integrated approach navigation system (IAN), Microwave landing system (MLS), lateral navigation system (LNAV), and Instrument Landing System (ILS) localizer reposition maneuvers and more specifically, to a criteria for using rectilinear displacement data to determine the location at which an aircraft should make its approach to a final destination path.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Generally speaking, Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) are widely used in the aviation industry to provide guidance to aircraft. Specifically, ILS are often used to provide approach guidance to an aircraft for landing. The syste...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for providing consistent localizer repositions, including consistent localizer captures. More specifically, embodiments of systems and methods in accordance with the present disclosure may advantageously reduce or eliminate overshoots during localizer reposition maneuvers by allowing an aircraft to begin reposition maneuvers prior to reaching the course guidance sector. Such embodiments may also advantageously enable the performance of localizer reposition maneuvers at larger intercept angles. In this way, airlines may realize fuel and time savings as localizer overshoots are reduced. Moreover, congestion at airports may be relieved as reductions in the overshoots may allow aircraft to be sequenced more closely together during landing approaches.

Problems solved by technology

Localizer repositions with a significant overshoot may waste fuel, may cause discomfort for aircraft passengers, and may make it necessary for air traffic control to widely space incoming aircraft at airfields with parallel runways.

Also turning the aircraft to early may delay the eventual capture of the desired path and result in an undesired over flight of obstacles or protected airspace.

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